The Affair:Drinking wine is a lot like jumping out of an airplane. You pack up your parachute, patiently await as butterflies circle madly in your stomach as you climb thousands of feet in the air, and then it all ends with that one moment you step out of the plane. It's at that moment that all of your fear, apprehension, and anxiety are given a roundhouse, knockout kick by a shot of excitement, adrenaline, and then hopefully a safe landing back on the ground. Sure, sometimes your chute doesn't open or something goes wrong and you end up like a splatter of bird poop on the ground... but sometimes the thrill of trying something new is rewarded with an intensely awesome experience. That's what living is all about!

The good news about drinking wine is that when it sucks, nobody gets hurt. You may lose of few bucks, but at least you still walk away with an experience... good OR bad. Last night's affair was one of those moments where I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Not only do I have little experience with Gewurztraminer, but I've never had one with bubbles before. So I strapped on my chute, grabbed the bottle, and gracefully attempted to pry the cork out of its neck (see picture above). Okay, maybe not quite graceful, but what do you expect from me? :)

If you've ever asked someone to describe their experience after they jump out of an airplane, you've probably gotten the same lame, non descriptive answer. It's usually either "awesome", "peaceful", "beautiful", or something else like that. You'll never really know for sure how it feels until you try it for yourself. Well, this affair can only be described as tasty, enjoyable, and FUN! This is one jump that ended well... I didn't worry for a second about my chute not opening! It was THAT good!

The Affair:To celebrate our first night home from our cruise, I decided to open a bottle that I KNEW my wife and I would love. We first tried this Spanish beauty while dining out about a month ago... in fact, YOU recommended for me to try it!

We enjoyed it then, and we TOTALLY enjoyed it last night! Coming home after a long relaxing trip can be depressing. You just know the fun is over. Work, life, and everyday problems are just around the corner. Isn't it nice to know that you can open a nice bottle of wine and delay everyday life just a moment longer?

Okay, well maybe I just love having a good reason to celebrate. That's why for my second wedding anniversary and Valentine's Day, I packed up my wife, my wine, and headed to the Caribbean on a seven day cruise. I know you must be dying to know how it went... so like a cheesy 80's movie, I've created a video montage to commemorate the event.

To celebrate my wedding anniversary and Valentine's Day, I'm packing up my wine, my wife, and some clothes (more wine than clothes) and heading on an overseas excursion. While I will probably go through serious withdrawal from being away from the blog, and will miss you all terribly while I am gone, rest assured that I will be having a good time and enjoying lots of great wine!

I hope you will be doing the same and I can't wait to hear what I miss while I am away and tell you all about my affairs while I am gone.

The Affair:I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I took this bottle out last weekend to enjoy with a nice cigar but ended up drinking beer, shots, and whatnot instead. Passed over and lonely, this bottle sat quietly next to my computer for several days. That is, until last night...

I love a good Petite Sirah. Perfect fuel for staying warm on a cold night or calming down after a long day, Petite Sirah just seems to sooth the soul. The better quality bottles of this grape tend to be packed with tons of that gritty, fruity, character that causes my cares to melt faster than a stick of butter in Paula Deen's kitchen. The thinner, less robust Petite Sirahs are okay, but nothing compares to a well made bottle of this beauty.

Last night's affair was one of the better Petite Sirahs that I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying. It was full bodied, dry, and ready for action. Maybe I've just had a rough week, but I found myself quickly emptying my glass and looking for more.

If you like dry reds, this bottle will deliver. If you have more of a sweet tooth and dread smokey oak, this may be an affair you would want to pass on. In any case and for whatever reason, this hump day affair was a great way to improve an otherwise busy, and overwhelmingly rough week. For that, I am very thankful!

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but since that controversial post about Mondavi's lovechild, I've been getting some seriously expensive bottles in the mail. This may sound like I am bragging.... well, actually that's because I am bragging! That's not the point. The point is that I feel like the wine world is embracing my honesty and rewarding me for giving the finger to all of the wine snobs out there who have no REAL taste. Now THAT'S something to brag about!

Okay, so if it's honesty you want, it's honesty you're gonna get!

That doesn't mean I'm gonna start bashing every bottle out there... it means that I am going to keep telling you the honest truth about the wine I taste. After all, pretend to like crappy wine, and you'll just get MORE crappy wine! No thanks!

So let's get down to business...

Why does Fairchild Estate believe they can charge over $100 for a bottle of their juice?

Ironically enough, Paul Hobbs, the winemaker for Fairchild Estate, worked for Mondavi earlier in his career and was even assigned to the Opus One team in 1981. Oh, now we're getting somewhere! I wonder if Paul has managed to create a wine worth its hefty price tag or if this is just more overhyped California crap? There's only one way to find out.

People are often intimidated when they first get into wine. Others drink it for years yet still manage to completely miss the most important part of the wine experience: enjoying the wine.

Over the past year of my "wine whoring", my perspective on wine has changed dramatically. One thing is for sure... The more I learn about wine, the more I realize how little I know.

Of all the lessons I've learned, I find the following six steps to enjoying wine to be the most important:

1) Don't Drink AloneYou wouldn't show up at a party with a case of beer, hide it, and then drink the entire thing by yourself, would ya? Well, maybe that's a bad example. But the point is that the key to enjoying wine is to enjoy it with other people. Not only is it more fun to drink in groups, but it is also a great chance to hear how other people perceive the same wine you're drinking. Everyone has different tastes, knowledge, and experience in wine. Learn, live, and enjoy the fact that we are all different!

2) Drink as Much as You Possibly CanNo, I'm not suggesting that you binge drink and puke on the family dog. Moderation is essential to avoiding this sort of embarrassment. What I AM saying is that you should seek out different types of wine and enjoy them on a regular basis. If you pair your wine with your everyday meals, after a few months you'll find that you've gone through quite a few bottles.

3) TravelThe best way to learn about wine is to go right to the source. I learned more about Bordeaux by visiting this region for a few days than many people learn during their entire lifetime.

Don't let your budget stop you from getting out there. In most cases, you don't have to travel far to find a winery since every state in the U.S. has one! Visit and support your local wineries and plan trips to other areas known for their wine. If you can swing it, plan a wine tour overseas. Who knows, you may find a new favorite varietal, region, or type of wine.

4) Eat More FoodThe more I drink, the more I realize that food, beer, wine, cheese, etc... all have similarities. Just look at Stilton and Sauternes... I know it sounds like a ridiculous combination but it actually tastes AWESOME! Like a symphony of the senses, food and wine can be combined in many different ways. Experiment with different combinations and don't be afraid to think outside the box. Often the most bizarre or unlikely combos offer the most rewarding results.

5) Ask for SuggestionsI like to keep a list of all of the wine suggestions that people give me. When it's time to go to the wine shop or out to a nice dinner, I print out the list and choose the ones that have gotten the best props. This works much better than trying to find Wine Spectator's over inflated and often out of stock top 100 selections.

6) Have an Open MindThis is by far the most important lesson I've learned when it comes to enjoying wine. Don't ever rule a bottle out for ANY reason. PERIOD!

Looking back on it, I have to believe that some divine being must have planned the whole thing out from the very beginning. There are just some things in life that happen without explanation but seem entirely too coincidental to be left to pure chance...

Todd Sweeney, the guy to the right of me in the picture above, has played an interesting, almost serendipitous role in my life. I met him over four years ago. I still remember the day he started working at the same corporate gig as me. We shared a common love for music and instantly became friends. Since then, he has introduced me to my wife who just so happened to work at the same hospital as his wife. He was a groomsman at my wedding. And now the winding paths of our lives are crossing once again.

Please allow me to introduce the newest member of the Wine Whore Brothel, Le Food Whore. This new addition will be hosted by my good friend and food lover, Todd Sweeney. Much like my blog, Todd will provide his honest, down to earth story... with a dash of his personality for flavor. If you've never met Todd, you'll quickly discover that he is an interesting character.

Don't take my word for it, find out for yourself by reading his first post "I am what I eat".

I am really excited to see where this chapter takes us. If the past is any indicator, it's going to be one heck of a ride! Also, get ready for some more announcements in the coming weeks. This Brothel is about to get more new residents!

This week I'll be doing something different. Instead of my usual solo broadcast, this week's TWWTV wine tasting will be open to the public. I won't be airing this week's show LIVE so if you want to join me, grab your liver and head over to Careme's Market in Lutz next Thursday for some FREE food, wine and HOT SAUCE!

Here's your chance to taste wine with me as I pour, taste, and discuss some new wine selections. Not only will this be a fun chance to wet your palate, but I'll also raffle off some sweet Wine Whore gear (shirts, glasses, bumper stickers).

Whoever said that whores don't get any love clearly wasn't talking about wine whores! To start off this holiday of love, Cupid has delivered not one, but TWO Valentine's Day treats. Ok, so maybe the schweaty UPS man with the gravy stain tie plastered to his uniform doesn't quite count as cupid. But hey, he brought me wine. That's good enough for me!

The first gift came from Jacob's Creek. A bottle of their Centenary Hill Shiraz along with a heartwarming note and some suggestions of local places where one can "Bring Your Own Bottle". Wait a minute... places that DON'T charge ridiculous corking fees DO exist? Maybe that WAS cupid at my door earlier today afterall!

The next arrow of love was thrown by one of my favorite repeat mistresses: LangeTwins. Joe Lange always knows the way to my heart and coincidentally, my liver. Joe and the folks over at Langetwins have my V-Day covered with a nice bottle of their 2006 Midnight Reserve. I can't wait to have an affair with this Bordeaux blend, a nice steak, and ... oh yeah, how could I forget, Mrs. Whore!

Thank you Constance and the folks over at Jacob's Creek as well as Joe and the folks at LangeTwins. After all, what would Valentine's Day be without several bottles of wine to enjoy?

Cheers to you all this Valentine's Day!

What will be in your glass?

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Here's how it works:Every month a theme will be announced. Post your essay/response to the theme on your blog, Facebook page, or wherever else you can find a place to post it on the internet. The deadline to post the link to your entry (in the comment section below) will be the first Wednesday of every month. After this deadline, there will be exactly one week of voting. After the votes are tallied, the winning entry will be announced and prizes, fame, and bragging rights will be awarded!

This month's topic:Ever puke on your dog, wind up lost in another country, or just swirl onto the person standing next to you? What's your most embarrassing wine moment?

Thank you for participating and good luck to those who entered... the deadline to vote for YOUR favorite entry is 2/12/2010 at midnight ET. Hurry up and vote using the form below!

Ok, I've gotta be honest here... Although there's a good chance I may crack into a bottle of wine tonight, most likely I'll be drinking beer. And that's okay! Don't ever feel like you HAVE to drink something because of what your eating or doing. Instead, drink WHAT you like WHEN you like! This recipe is the key to a perfect pairing every time!

After a long week, I felt that it was only fair to celebrate the weekend in proper wine whore style. To kick off the party, I made my way to the "World of Beer" to meet some old friends and make some new ones. I wasn't about to order a glass of wine at a place named after its selection of beer, so I started off the evening with a Rogue Dead Guy Ale followed by a Bellhaven Scottish Stout, and finished with a hoppy 90 Minute IPA.

Feeling pretty good, I made my way to a friend's house for some dinner and drinks. Once I arrived, all bets were off. Everything from Bogle Old Vine Zin/Grenache to Red Zeppelin Syrah was flowing. I even remember having a shot of Citron at one point in the evening.

Last night was about enjoying life, not about tasting notes. Sometimes you just have to forget about WHAT you are drinking, and just focus on enjoying time with your friends, family, and whoever else you are sharing the moment with at the time. After all, isn't that the whole point?

Wal-Mart announced that, sometime in 2010, it will begin offering customers a new discount item - Wal-Mart's own brand of wine. The world's largest retail chain is teaming up with Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery of California to produce the spirits at an affordable price, in the $2 - $5 range.

Wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to put a bottle of Walmart brand into their shopping carts, but "there is a market for inexpensive wine," said Kathy Micken, professor of marketing at the University of Arkansas.

"But the right name is important." Customer surveys were conducted to determine the most attractive name for the Wal-mart wine brand.